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7/7/2009
Dear St. John Members and Friends,
Some of you were in worship Sunday and heard that I have a new exercise plan for this summer. Many mornings I go golfing around 7 in the morning. I walk 9 holes of golf, so that is about 2 ½ - 3 miles of walking and exercise. (The worse I hit the ball, the more exercise I get! Talk about putting a positive spin on things!!) Golfing takes about 2 hours, and when I am done golfing I go to church where I shower and work in the office. There was a time when I was pastor in St. Louis and Florida that I golfed regularly with friends from our congregations. But, because of limited time for recreation, in Alaska I have concentrated more on fishing than golf since I lived here. While I still fish on Monday or maybe even Friday in the summer, the other days this summer you’ll often find me out walking the golf course early in the morning.
Unfortunately, after not playing golf much for the last 20 years, my game is pretty bad. Not only am I older and weaker, but I am less able to hit the ball solidly, to hit the ball straight, or even to putt the ball. In other words, bad shots are a frequent occurrence. (I counted 5 very bad shots in today’s round.)
These bad shots can have a positive application, however. If I work at it (I mean really work at it) I can learn from the times I hit a bad shot. I can learn what I did wrong in my swing so that I can possibly correct that fault in my swing. I can also learn about attitudes that affect my game. I find that if I think through a shot, if I prepare ahead of time, and if I let don’t become upset and impatient because of my mistakes, my game is better and I enjoy it more.
Proverbs 19:11 says, “A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” Can you face life’s trials and mistakes with patience? Can you learn from them rather than brood on them? That’s a valuable lesson to learn. And, sometimes we learn lessons in places other than books.
In Matthew 5 Jesus calls us to, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” But you and I know that we are not perfect. My golf name is not perfect. Worse, our lives are sinful, imperfect, and rebellious. Knowing we are sinful should not give us an excuse to keep on sinning. God wants us to be serious about living our lives for Him. But, because of the forgiveness of Jesus, when we have failed we can use our failure as a lesson. How can I improve next time? What attitudes help in living as God’s child? What resources and help does God give me that will help me if this situation rises again?
I pray that your summer is going well. In addition, I pray that God may help you learn from your mistakes to be serious as you seek to live as His child, FOR Him!
Seeking to grow in living as God’s child,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. I have a regular Wednesday morning golf date. But, if you would like to golf with me 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday or Thursday (or another day), let me know.
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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ - I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have. (I am always adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.) However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message. . . Or, if you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me their e-mail address.
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VBS is coming soon (July 19-23)! Check out the St. John web site for a video explanation of this VBS, for registration and volunteer forms, and for other information.
SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE CLASS – “Nooma” Our Sunday “Nooma” Bible Classes examine everyday events in our lives as an opportunity to see how God is working in our lives, or how we could be living for God. These classes will be held in the South Fellowship Hall outside the kitchen beginning this Sunday at 9:45 a.m.
NEW BASIC CHRISTIANS TEACHINGS / ADULT MEMBERSHIP CLASSES. We will start Sunday Basic Christian Teachings Classes, this Sunday, July 12!
These classes will be held between worship services in addition to the Nooma classes. The Nooma classes are in the fellowship hall. These Basic Christian Teachings Classes will be held in Pastor Jonathan’s office.
The purpose of a “Basic Christian Teachings Bible Class” is either so current St. John members can refresh their knowledge of Scripture, or so those wishing to join our congregation may attend these classes and then officially join St. John. When these Sunday Classes are over, at the end of the summer we will hold a one day make up session.
WORSHIP THIS SUMMER has been based around the theme, “God’s help for the journey of life.” Listed below are the sermons I have preached so far, and those I have planned for the rest of the summer.
Series God’s Help for the Journey of Life
June 14 Pentecost 2 God help when we’re discouraged.
June 21 Pentecost 3 God’s help when we’re afraid
July 5 Pentecost 5 God’s help when we’re weak.
July 12 Pentecost 6 God’s help when we are sinful
Mark 6:14-29 (King Herod corrupts his authority and beheads John the Baptist.)
July 19 Pentecost 7 God’s help when we are stressed and worn out
Mark 6:30-44 (Jesus feeds the multitude with a few pieces of bread and a couple of fish.)
July 26 Pentecost 8 God’s help when we get ourselves in trouble
Mark 6:45-56 (Jesus walks on water and Peter follows, and needs help.)
August 9 Pentecost 10 God’s help when we feel empty
1 Kings 19:1-8 (Elijah's flight sustained by food supplied by an angel.)
John 6:35-51 (The living Bread from heaven.)
August 23 Pentecost 12 God’s help to do His will Mark 7:1-13 (Worship in purity of heart.)
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DID YOU KNOW THAT MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT ST. JOHN is available on our church website? The link is: http://www.st-john-lutheran.org At the current time our web master, Jacki Rose, is revising our web site with some new pictures and software. The new version will be available soon.